Chapter 02: Sinta
Southern Lands
The young princess strolled gracefully through her secret garden, a place that was both hidden from the world yet somehow not entirely concealed. As she wandered, her thoughts drifted like the gentle breeze that rustled the leaves around her. Her gaze fell upon the stunning pure white roses that adorned the garden, their delicate petals glistening in the sunlight. Suddenly, she paused, blinking in surprise. "When did I allow these beautiful white roses to flourish in my garden?" she pondered aloud, her fingers lightly brushing against one of the blooms. The soft texture of the petals sent a wave of nostalgia through her. She didn’t require an answer to her own question; instead, she let out a soft sigh, a mixture of wonder and resignation. "Ah, Foxy and his roses," she murmured, recalling the mischievous fox who had a knack for surprising her with unexpected gifts.
Southern castle
It was a rainy night, and the castle loomed darker than usual, shrouded in an eerie atmosphere that seemed to amplify the sound of raindrops tapping against the stone walls. A silent silver fox, with a coat that shimmered like moonlight, cautiously navigated the dimly lit halls, desperately trying to remember the way out. He didn’t think anyone would care if a silver fox wandered around the place, especially one with reddish fur around his ears. After all, he was just a fox, albeit one with a silver necklace cleverly hidden within his thick fur, a treasure he had unwittingly claimed.
Unbeknownst to him, the princess was silently trailing behind, her curiosity piqued by the unexpected visitor. She had witnessed him stealthily snatch her necklace, and instead of summoning her guards to apprehend him and lock him away, she had chosen a different path. With a flick of her wrist, she cast a spell on him, ensuring that he would never be able to leave the castle grounds. A soft, mischievous smile crossed her lips as she followed him down one of the winding staircases. She was uncertain of his destination, but she was confident it wasn’t the front door he sought.
The fox sighed lightly, feeling a strange sense of unease as he wandered through the castle’s labyrinthine corridors. He realized he wasn’t heading toward the front entrance, but he couldn’t quite grasp why that was the case. It was beginning to irritate him as he descended further down the staircase. Upon reaching the bottom, he paused to survey his surroundings. “Okay, this way leads outside… but to where, I have no idea,” he thought to himself, his instincts guiding him as he began to make his way toward the back of the castle.
Meanwhile, the princess blinked in surprise as she followed him through the shadowy back halls. She peered out of the back windows, her mind racing with thoughts. “Isn’t this path… Oh no…” Suddenly, it dawned on her just where the fox was headed: her secret garden, the one she had kept hidden from prying eyes. ((Note: Mira, the princess, isn’t particularly skilled at her spells at this time. xD Also, she had used a spell to conceal herself from him.)) A frown creased her brow as she shook her head, realizing she needed to devise a new plan to protect her cherished sanctuary.
As the fox continued his exploration, a smirk crept across his lips when he stumbled upon a door that led to the outside world. With a determined flick of his front paws, he pushed the door open, stepping into the night. He blinked in surprise as he emerged into a garden that seemed untouched by the rain. “A garden? Why isn’t it raining here?” he pondered, his curiosity piqued by the enchanting sight before him.
Meanwhile, the princess watched from the shadows, her heart racing. “Oh no… Does my spell not work on him?” she thought, a soft pout forming on her lips. She had underestimated the fox’s resilience and the power of her own magic. With a mix of apprehension and excitement, she decided to follow him into her magical hidden garden, a place where she had always felt safe and free.
As the fox explored the vibrant flora and shimmering flowers, he felt an inexplicable connection to the garden. It was as if the very essence of the place resonated with him, drawing him deeper into its beauty. He marveled at the colors and scents that surrounded him, completely unaware of the princess’s presence just a few steps behind him.
Mira, the princess, watched intently, her mind racing with thoughts of how to handle this unexpected encounter. She had always cherished her garden as a sanctuary, a place where she could escape the pressures of royal life. Now, it seemed, her secret was at risk of being discovered by this clever fox. As she observed him, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of kinship with the creature, both of them outsiders in their own ways.
The rain continued to pour outside the castle walls, but within the garden, a magical tranquility enveloped them both. The princess knew she had to act quickly, but as she watched the fox revel in the beauty of her hidden paradise, she found herself hesitating. Perhaps this encounter could lead to something unexpected, something that could change both their fates forever.
After spending several hours wandering aimlessly around the expansive garden, the fox finally let out a deep, exasperated sigh as he settled down onto the cool, damp grass. He had lost track of the door that led into the castle, and now he found himself trapped in this seemingly endless garden, unable to discover a way out. Just as he was about to unleash a frustrated scream into the stillness of the air, he heard a faint sound that caught his attention. Curiosity piqued, he looked around cautiously, and to his surprise, he jumped up in shock as he spotted a young girl nearby. "Shit," he muttered under his breath, taken aback by her sudden appearance.
The young princess, meanwhile, let out a soft yawn, her eyes growing heavy with sleep. She had been watching the fox for quite some time, but the monotony of the situation was beginning to bore her, and the gentle sound of the rain falling around her was lulling her into a state of drowsiness. Unbeknownst to her, the hiding spell she had cast to remain unseen was beginning to fade as she succumbed to her fatigue. Moments later, she fell gently to the soft grass, her small form nestled among the vibrant green blades, completely unaware of the fox's presence.
The fox wondered over to the sleeping princess and looked her over then sighed as he went to his humanoid form. Silver locks mixed with red locks of bangs hang in his golden eyes as he sat under a nearby tree. He realized who the girl was and that she placed spells over him. He removed the silver fox necklace that he took and looked at it. "So this princess is Mira... The one I heard to be more child like then her sister, Lyra..." He said softly. He let out another sigh as he looked over at her. "Guess I'm stuck here for a while." Which he was.
When three hours passed, the sun started to come up as the rain stopped. The morning rays, got Mira to flinch and wake up. She sat up as she rubbed her left eye softly. "Where..." She muttered lightly before remembering last night. She looked around and blinked as she saw the fox demon sleeping against the tree. She giggled lightly before moving quietly over to him. She reached over and softly took her necklace away from him and smiled softly.
"So the princess is awake," he said, his voice a gentle murmur that broke the stillness of the early morning.
Mira blinked a few times, her maroon eyes adjusting to the light as she looked up at his face, realizing that he was indeed awake. Their eyes met—her deep maroon gaze locking onto his striking golden eyes for a brief moment, and a soft smile crept across her lips. "Yep. I'm not used to sleeping outside," she admitted, her voice laced with a hint of embarrassment.
Sinta shook his head slightly, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he regarded her. "Then why did you follow me when you could have easily summoned a guard for that?" he asked, genuinely curious about her decision.
She paused for a moment, contemplating her response. "Well, Foxie," she began, a playful glint in her eyes, "I didn't want to bother any of them since I don't particularly like them, and I wanted to try out some spells." Her expression shifted to one of sweetness as she added, "Plus, you took my favorite necklace."
Sinta blinked in surprise, then narrowed his eyes slightly, a mock glare forming on his face. "I'm Sinta, not Foxie. And how is that fox necklace your favorite? I thought you said you hated foxes."
Mira's expression turned serious as she replied, "I don’t hate foxes; they’re actually one of my favorite animals. Soren gave this necklace to me before he left for training." She pressed the necklace to her chest protectively, her glare softening as she recalled the memory.
Sinta let out a light sigh, realizing the significance of the necklace to her. "Alright, I get it. So what will you do to me for taking it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in playful challenge.
Mira thought for a moment, her mind racing with possibilities, before a bright smile illuminated her face. "How about you become my first knight? You can help me get those mean guards to stay away from me," she proposed, her excitement evident in her voice.
The fox boy considered her offer, his ears twitching slightly as he weighed the pros and cons. After a brief moment of contemplation, he nodded. "Alright. Deal," he agreed, a hint of a smile breaking through his serious demeanor.
The princess beamed at him, her joy infectious. She reached up and gently touched his fox ears, her fingers brushing against the soft fur. "Even as my first knight, Sinta, you won’t be allowed to leave this castle for a while, or at least until I can trust that you won’t abandon me," she said, her tone playful yet serious as she felt the warmth of his soft ears beneath her fingertips.
He let out another sigh, closing his eyes as he relished the sensation of her touch. "Deal..." he murmured, a soft purr escaping his lips, which caused his cheeks to flush a light shade of pink.
Mira giggled lightly, her laughter ringing like music in the air. "I so love your ears," she said, her voice filled with genuine affection. She then let out a small gasp as she reached down to touch his tail. "Ooo, it’s so soft too! I love your tail as well," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Sinta opened his eyes, watching her with a mix of amusement and curiosity as she continued to pet his silver tail. "I’m taking that to mean you love soft things, right?" he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.
She smiled brightly and nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! Soft things are the best," she declared, her enthusiasm infectious. The two shared a moment of laughter, the bond between them growing stronger as they reveled in the simple joy of each other's company. In that moment, the world outside the castle walls faded away, leaving just the two of them, a princess and her newly appointed knight, ready to face whatever adventures lay ahead.
Mira let out a soft sigh as she strolled over to the magnificent tree that stood proudly in the center of the garden. This tree held a special place in her heart, not solely because it was under its sprawling branches that she had made Sinta her first knight, but also because it was a stunning sakura tree. In fact, it was the only one of its kind in all the southern lands, making it even more precious to her. As she approached the tree, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. She settled down on the cool grass beneath the tree, gazing up at the delicate sakura leaves that danced gently in the breeze. "I’m sure Sinta will be fine with Kai... but why am I feeling so worried?" she pondered aloud, her thoughts swirling.
"Maybe it’s because he was the first fox that didn’t scare you?" came a voice from nearby, breaking her reverie.
Mira turned her head and smiled softly at Soren, her childhood friend. "Maybe you’re right, Soren. He’s still one of the only foxes that don’t frighten me, just as you are one of the few dragons who don’t intimidate me either."
Soren shook his head slightly, a hint of exasperation in his expression as he let out a deep sigh. "Mira, I can’t turn into a dragon, let alone sprout wings. So..." He trailed off, his thoughts seemingly lost in the air, and sighed again, the weight of his words hanging between them. "Never mind."
Mira couldn’t help but giggle lightly at his antics. She reached up and playfully pulled him down next to her, enjoying the warmth of their friendship. "Welcome back, Soren," she said, her voice filled with affection. The two of them sat together under the beautiful sakura tree, surrounded by the gentle rustle of leaves and the sweet scent of blossoms, sharing a moment of peace and camaraderie in their enchanting world.